Kidnapping Scam Warning For Parents in Montgomery County

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County Public Schools officials are warning parents about virtual kidnapping phone scams, where parents receive a call that their child is kidnapped and will be hurt unless they pay a ransom. Residents have reported receiving calls throughout the past three weeks, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Public Schools told Patch.

The scammer calls the parents from an unknown number and claims their child was kidnapped. The scammer then demands the parents wire money for the safe return of their child.

Gboyinde Onijala with Montgomery County Public Schools told Patch a couple of Montgomery County families have been targets. Some victims even report they hear screaming in the background of the phone call.

Onijala said that if you receive this call, you should contact your child's school to confirm your child is safe, and notify your police department. Do not wire any money.

The FBI said parents should stay alert if:

• They receive multiple successive phone calls from an outside area code
• Calls do not come from the kidnapped victim's phone
• Callers go at great lengths to keep you on the phone
• Callers prevent you from calling or locating the "kidnapped" victim
• Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer services.

The FBI also says parents should:

• Stay calm and slow the situation down
• Avoid sharing information about you or your family during the call
• Listen carefully to the voice of the "kidnapped" victim
• Attempt to call or determine the location of the "kidnapped" victim
• Request to speak to the victim
• Ask questions only the victim would know
• Request the kidnapped victim call back from his/her cell phone.

If you receive a virtual kidnapping call, contact Montgomery County Police at 301-279-8000 or call 911.

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